Have you ever felt like you were literally swirling and twirling in a whirlwind of change? Well I have sure have and I'm certain that I'm not the only one because change is an integral part of LIVING this life! The good news is that whirlwinds are preordained agents of change that have an attached promise that cannot be broken by our God who is constantly making all things new.

If you don't believe it just take a look at an expectant mother's sonogram at eight weeks and then again at twenty-six weeks. What can be seen is undeniable growth and development necessary for healthy life. Next, check out the lowly, underestimated caterpillar that crawls on the ground in the beginning. Now, fast forward to the end of the metamorphosis cycle and marvel at the beautiful creature that has evolved and emerged. Wow, talk about an example for change. This reminds me that I actually have a poster of a beautiful butterfly who has come into its own after a process of time. The quote by Trina Paulus says: “How does one become a butterfly?" she asked. "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”

The revelatory thing about the butterfly however that is often overlooked is that the only possible way it can become its finished product is that it first has to die. Oh my. It is impossible for me to comprehend this, to write this without recalling the precious words our Saviour, Jesus Christ spoke so long ago in John 10 that still live today: Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

A little further on John 12 reads: Most Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

No matter where we are on our chosen routes we always have the prerogative to CHANGE our minds. As a matter of fact God has been waiting on many to do just that so He can show up and show out in our lives. We must not be insistent on staying a course, remaining in a relationship or continuing to mourn what God has rejected. The moment that we are willing to relinquish our wills... will be the moment that long awaited manifestation appears. Selah.

Just about everyone who watches just a few minutes of TV has seen the AT&T commercial where the kids share their wisdom on needed "turtle-speed." Kid #1 has a good point but kid #2 presents an even better point! If a vehicle is coming and I have no idea if it will crush me or swerve to preserve my life a little longer... I'll take being a fast turtle for 300 please, Alex.

Recently some friends and I laughed about this very commercial but those kids were really onto something that got me thinking. To a turtle's credit it's not made to travel greater than a certain speed on average; it's just not built for acceleration. We humans on the other hand really do need to know when to put some fire under our feet and pick up the pace to cross over to the other side to a safe place of rest. Truth be told though, just like the turtle, everyone is not built to travel at the same speed despite the same level of desire to get out of the road.

Whether we're a fast turtle or a slower turtle we can still get to the needed destination because thankfully we serve a gracious God who understands. Just take a look at Ecc 9:11 which says, "I returned and saw under the sun that, "The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all."

Whether you're a slow turtle or fast turtle, as long as you're in the will of God and covered under His ark of safety... you'll be okay. Selah.

Fred Hammond really knocked the ball out of the park with this old school vibe. I was just thinking on how much it has been raining ALL DAY LONG and this song came to my spirit. The children of God have to constantly press on this walk that definately is "not sunshine every day."

Truth be told, there are inescapable days when it not only rains, but pours and a mighty bitter cup at that. The Good News is that we have a Saviour whose name is Jesus, the name above all names who is able to help in times of conflict, chaos, confusion and calamity. At the preordained sound of the timer, He lovingly leads us to a safe place of refuge that allows us to be renewed, rejuvinated, replenished and recalibrated for the next leg of the journey.

Therefore, Beloved, rest along the journey if you must, but even when tempted, don't quit! Pull out your umbrellas, slip on your rain boots, button your raincoats and PRESS on through the storm! Press inspite of, press because of, press anyhow, press anyway, press regardless of, PRESS until either "IT" or "YOU" changes. Selah.

Kickball, Jump Rope, Hopscotch, Freeze Tag, One-Two-Three-Red Light, Rockin' Robin and Mother May I?! Wow... can anybody remember the innocent days in our youth when we went outside during morning recess? We gathered on the playground to run and laugh as we played these type of pre-tech games. What an experience of being carefree and enjoying life to the fullest those days were to a kid during the school day. As I reflect upon those times on this first exquisite day of May, I realize that we can still be that carefree right now no matter our numerical age because of a one word formula called "JOY." Not "HAPPINESS" but real, sincere and unadulterated "JOY" that is not dependent upon a happening but simply upon the grace of God.

The JOY of the Lord is my strength and I am expecting God to continue to pour strength in that my joy will be made complete. Throughout the years, many of the absolute best things have happened to me in the month of May. Is it because May is my birth month? Could it be because "5" is God's number of grace? Lol! I don't really think so because soem May days have been far from "sunny" but the one thing I know for sure is that whatever month I'm in, I have a direct line of communication and all I have to say is "Father May I?" If my request (that may not even be tangible) is in the perfect will of God concerning me, it's a done deal. Can you really ask "that" of the Father in this very moment no matter who you are or where you might be? Yes, you may.

Receive a fresh awareness of Spirit's ability in your life today. Have the complete understanding that you are fearfully & wonderfully made. Stand tall in the power of knowing that through His grace YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. Now that you've got all that... benchpress your authority and make it happen!But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Cor 4)

Saturday we put up Christmas decorations & they are so pretty! Today my beloved son who is a TV/movie fanatic was trying to adjust the DVD player and did the unthinkable.... he knocked over and BROKE MY MAMA's SNOW GLOBE! Mind you my Mom's been enjoying heaven for 6 years now but when she was here with us she loved, loved, loved decorating for Christmas. Out of all her decorations that were left somehow I have cherished that big, beautiful nativity snow globe most of all. Every time I look at it each Christmas, I see my Mom smiling back at me and it brought me comfort me because I still miss her so. When my son walked into my office this evening to beat around a "confession" of having knocked it over I had just one quiet question, "Is it broken?"I walked downstairs to see that it indeed was broken and I could not say a single word.

More unusual, I didn't scream or yell but simply picked it up and put it in the trash. I turned and walked back upstairs and when I sat down I felt absolutely no anger but a tear very slowly trickled down my face, then another and another. I silently asked myself, "Why are you really crying?" I felt within myself that the reason for these tears was bigger than the connection to the snow globe. SO I continued to sit and as I sat I realized they were a needed trigger for that lasttt little bit of residual hurt, pain and discouragement of the past 18 months to be washed away on THIS SIDE of 2012. Why? Because 2013 is GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE and has no room for "yesterday's sorrows." Even as I write this, I feel the Comforter drawing me close saying, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55: 8-9). It is well with my soul. Selah.

At some point we have got to DECIDE who we want to be or rather - exactly who we don’t want to be. We have to decide who we want to respect and who we never can. And then be everything we believe in. For sure everything’s much easier said than done! That’s why when we deviate, we must jump back into the person we really want to be. The person who makes us smile in the mirror. Everything’s not 100% neat or 100% good, but let what we do be 100% US. God has placed greatness inside of you so when you do not exactly live up to that greatness, don't beat yourself up! Simply remember WHO and what is IN you!

Quote of the Day: "The WORST of you is NO MATCH for the BEST of you! Just IMPLEMENT!"-Marquaysa Battle

Today has been a day of spiritual awakening & abundant blessings. The Holy Spirit in His infinite wisdom and grace has walked with me and talked with me all the day long. Now as the evening moves to a close I'm reflecting on just what made today such a great day. Did I wake up this morning giving God the praise for a BRAND NEW DAY? Check! Did I ask for and receive a blood-washing before I even sat up to put motion to my day? Check! Did I decree and declare that the day finds me being Spirit led & Spirit controlled? Check! Did I bind up & send every imp and demon assigned to thwart my day packing? Check! When the enemy STILL tried to unsettle me with this and that did I remain unmoved? This is not a game of chess but I just feeeeeeel like saying "Checkmate!" Selah.

I don't know about anyone else, but I've got a song in my heart today that sings: "This morning when I arose, I didn't have no doubt! That the Lord will take care of me and that the Lord will provide for me, that the Lord will lead and guide me all the wayyyyy!" Oh my! I'm consciously aware that each day I'm priviledged to wake and live is grace in the form of a breath. It's up to me to decide what I will do with the breath ... or not. The grace of God is real people. He has indeed set commands before us that He expects us to make a concerted effort to work diligently at keeping. However our free will He will not touch. What God has done instead is put the deciding WORDS right in our mouths to make it easier for us to make the beneficial, life-sustaining decision to obey. Once again, I don't know about anyone else, but I believe I shall not die, but live. Selah.Gracious God thank You today for the gift of grace that is rebuilding my life. Amen.